Johnson: Arizona’s top baseball stories for 2012
From SABR member Rodney Johnson at Examiner.com on December 30, 2012:
Arizona has more baseball year-round than any other state. There was plenty to cheer about for the state in 2012 but there were also some disappointments. Here is the Examiner roundup of the state’s top stories in 2012:
- The Arizona Wildcats ended South Carolina’s two year run as NCAA champs. The Cats swept two games from the Gamecocks in Omaha to win the College World Series and claim the national title. Arizona took the first game, 5-1 and followed it up with a 4-1 clincher the next day. The Wildcats (48-17) won 18 of their last 20 games including their final 11 contests. The title was the ‘Cats fourth and first since 1986.
- Optimism reigned for the Diamondbacks going into the 2012 season. After winning the division and coming within one game of going to the NLCS in 2011, the D’backs were favored by many to make a run at the National League title. The promise of last year dissolved with injuries and ineffectiveness as the club labored to finish in third place in the N.L. West with a disappointing 81-81 record.
Read the full article here: http://www.examiner.com/article/arizona-s-top-baseball-stories-for-2012
Originally published: January 2, 2013. Last Updated: January 2, 2013.